Dear Florida’s Teachers and Parents,
As we reach the halfway point of the school year, I want to thank you for everything you do to support our students. Teachers work every day to lay the foundation for student success. Parents and families strengthen that foundation by reinforcing learning at home and helping students stay focused and prepared.
Winter break provides a chance for students to rest and enjoy time with their families. It also provides an opportunity for you to reinforce at home what students are learning in school. Reading together, practicing math facts, focusing on resiliency, and talking about goals for the new year all help students stay on track.
Many families draw strength and guidance from their faith and traditions. Proverbs 22:6 reminds us, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” This wisdom reflects the responsibility we share. When schools and families work together to educate our students, children benefit for a lifetime.
As we look ahead to the second half of the school year, I encourage you to continue the strong partnership that has carried students this far. When teachers and parents work together with a shared purpose, students feel supported and motivated to excel. Your efforts at home reinforce the important work happening in classrooms across the state, and that unity helps students grow academically and personally.
In addition, the Florida Department of Education is proud to provide parent resources for student success in Mathematics, English Language Arts, and Resiliency to help families support learning at home. Each guide outlines key concepts and skills taught by grade level, defines important terms, and offers practical activities and questions to encourage learning beyond the classroom; all aligned to the B.E.S.T. Standards. Parent resources include:
• https://flmath4all.org/Home/Index
• https://www.fldoe.org/academics/standards/just-read-fl/parent-guides-for-english-language-arts.stml
• https://www.buildresiliency.org/parentresources
Thank you for the many ways you support our students every day in the classroom and at home. I appreciate your partnership and remain confident that, working together, we will help every student finish the year strong.
I wish you all good tidings of comfort and joy this holiday season, and I look forward to another successful semester in the new year.
Blessings,
Anastasios Kamoutsas